Two Remarkable Moss Species New to Turkey and Southwest Asia: Taxonomic Notes and Biogeographical Implications

Two Remarkable Moss Species New to Turkey and Southwest Asia: Taxonomic Notes and Biogeographical Implications | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Two Remarkable Moss Species New to Turkey and Southwest Asia: Taxonomic Notes and Biogeographical Implications Tülay Ezer, Ahmet Uygur, Züleyha Aslan Ergenekon, Mevlüt Alataş, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9347774/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose In this study, in which the species Tortella alpicola and Schistidium succulentum are recorded for the first time in Turkey and Southwest Asia, aims to contribute to the bryophyte flora of Turkey. Method During bryological land study to the Bolkar Mountains, Tortella alpicola and Schistidium succulentum were collected. The collected specimens were identified using the relevant literature. The Turkish plants are described and illustrated from material collected from the Bolkar Mountains, which have a semi-arid and cold Mediterranean climate with a severe frost period in winter. Ecological characteristics of the species and details of localities in Turkey are also given. Results Tortella alpicola was collected from the road to Cocakdere National Park and from the vicinity of Karagöl, a glacial lake, in the Bolkar Mountains. It grows in the alpine belt of the Bolkar Mountains, in the thin layer of moist soil covering the rocks and on the limestone bedrock. Specimens of Schistidium succulentum were collected from a sun-exposed, open limestone rock surface in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains. Tortella alpicola and Schistidium succulentum were recorded for the first time from Turkey and Southwest Asia with the present study. Conclusion These new records will provide important information on the biogeographical distribution of both species in both Anatolia and Southwest Asia and will contribute to the bryophyte flora of Turkey. Bolkar Mountains bryophytes mosses new records Schistidium succulentum Southwest Asia Tortella alpicola Turkey Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction Alpine crispy moss Tortella alpicola Dix. was described by Dixon in 1930 from the Himalayas in India (Dixon, 1930 ). The species was later described by Greene from Alexandra Island in Antarctica in 1970 as Sarconeuron tortelloides S. W. Greene, and shortly thereafter transferred to the genus Tortella (Otnyukova et al., 2004 ; Rams et al., 2006 ). Forty years after T. alpicola , Zander accepted Tortella tortelloides (S. W. Greene) H. Rob., first reported from North America by Eckel ( 1991 ), as the same species, thereby significantly expanding the distribution range of this species (Zander 1993 ). The only known location of Tortella alpicola in Eurasia is its type locality in India, although it has also been reported from single locations in Antarctica, Hawaii and Colombia. However, the distribution of the species extends from Antarctica to the Arctic. Recent studies have reported the species' presence in Eurasia from different regions of Russia and from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia, which are closer to its type locality in Asia (Otnyukova et al., 2004 ; Rams et al., 2006 ). It was reported that the species, recorded for the first time in Europe in the Urals, was found in the Sierra Nevada, and subsequently recorded in the mountainous regions of France, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Canary Islands (Ellis et al., 2020 ). The present paper adds the Bolkar Mountains (Turkey) to the known distribution of the species and also reports a new record for Turkey and South-West Asia. Nine taxa of the genus Tortella have been certainly reported in Turkey so far (Kürschner and Frey 2020 ). Here, T. alpicola firstly reportd from Turkey and taking to 10 the number of Tortella taxa. Schistidium succulentum Ignatova & H.H.Blom was descriped to new species by Ignatova et al. ( 2009 ) from Teberda Nature Reserve in Russia (Karachaevo-Cherkessian Republic). Then, the species was reported from Anabar Plateau, Transbaikal and Kamchatka (Ignatov et al. 2017 ). Schistidium succulentum , recorded by Kiebacher in the European Alps in 2020, has raised doubts about the identity of Schistidium subconfertum (Broth.) Deguchi, which was described by Hans H. Blom in 1996, long before the description of Schistidium succulentum , and included in the European bryophyte checklist based on a single specimen previously reported by Glowacki from the Italian Alps. To resolve this issue, the Glowacki’s specimen was re-examined morphologically and was determined to actually represent S. succulentum (Kiebacher and Blom, 2022 ). The concept of species within the taxonomically difficult genus Schistidium has changed significantly in recent years, particularly following Blom’s revision of the S. apacarpum complex in Norway and Sweden. His narrow species concept has been widely applied in other regions of Europe and also this approach was supported with a molecular study conducted by Goryunov et al. ( 2007 ) (Blom, 1996 ; Erzberger and Schröder, 2008 ; Ignatova et al., 2009 ). Schistidium succulentum , which belongs to the Confertum -clade, has been identified in the Bolkar Mountains in Turkey (Ignatova et al. 2009 ). So far, twenty-eight taxa of Schistidium Bruch & Schimp. have been reported for Turkey (Kürschner and Frey 2020 ; Ellis et al., 2021 ). In the present paper, S. succulentum , firstly reportd from Turkey and Sout-west Asia, increases this total by one. Material and Methods Study area Located at the intersection of the Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean phytogeographic regions in Turkey, the Bolkar Mountains are situated in the eastern part of the Central Taurus Mountains and extend in the southwest-northeast direction (Fig 1). Covering an area of approximately 1290 km2 in total, these mountains have a length of approximately 150 km from southwest to northeast and a width of 40-50 km in places (Ünaldı and Kömüşcü, 2007). Permo-Carboniferous-aged limestones, widely observed as the basic rock unit in the Bolkar Mountains, exhibit a hard, crystallized, and fractured structure, forming the upper parts of the mountain (Ünaldı and Kömüşcü, 2007). Additionally, this rock unit comprises carbonate, siliciclastic, and volcanic rocks with ages ranging from the Upper Permian to the Late Cretaceous, and it also includes their metamorphic transformations (Karaoğlan, 2016). The soil characteristics of the region encompass terra-rossa and reddish-brown Mediterranean soils in the south, as well as brown forest soils and brown soils in the north. Moreover, high mountain meadow soils are observed at altitudes above 2000 meters (Ünaldı and Kömüşcü, 2007). The Bolkar Mounatains are a region that exhibits marked differences in terms of climate diversity, with the northern part experiencing a semi-arid and cold Mediterranean climate, while the southern part generally displays characteristics of a Mediterranean climate. Most of the study area is covered with steppe and rock vegetation; however, in the southern part, maquis shrubs and coniferous forests, typical of the Mediterranean climate, are observed (Kürschner, 1984). Data source This study is based on specimens collected from the Bolkar Mountains. The collected specimens were identified using relevant literature (Blom, 1996; Blom et al., 2025; Brugués and Guerra, 2015; Casas et al., 2006; Eckel, 1997; 1999; Ignatova and Doroshina, 2008; Ignatova et al., 2009; 2016; Kiebacher, 2020; Lüth, 2019; Otnyukova et al., 2004; Rams et al., 2006; 2011; Swissbryophytes 2018; Zander, 1993). Voucher specimens held in the Herbarium of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University. Results and Discussions Tortella alpicola Dixon Ann. Bryol. 3: 54. 1929. Sarconeuron tortelloides S.W. Greene, Sci. Rep. Brit. Antarct. Surv. 64:38. 1970. Tortella tortelloides (S.W. Greene) Robins. in Liano, Antarct. Terr. Biol., Antarct. Res. Ser. 20:170. 1972. Tortella fragilis var. tortelloides (S.W.Greene) Zand. & Hoe, Bryologist 82:84. 1979 (Fig. 2). Specimen examined: Turkey: Konya, Halkapınar District, Bolkar Mountains, Cocakdere National Park road, 37° 14' 54" N, 34° 21' 17" E, grow on moist soil covering the rocks, 2980 m a.s.l., 12 August 2024, leg. and det. T. Ezer s.n. (Herbarium number: NOHU5346). Turkey: Niğde Province, Ulukışla District, Madenköy Village, Bolkar Mountains, 37° 24' 14" N, 34° 33' 51" E, grow on rock near the lake Karagöl, 2575 m a.s.l., 20 June 2023, leg. and det. T. Ezer s.n. (Herbarium number: NOHU4972). Description of the Turkish specimens: Plants small, up to 6-10 mm, green. Stems thin, without red tomentum, with central strand typically. Leaves flexuose when dry, almost erect when wet, oblong to linear-lanceolate, papillose-crenulate margins throughout the leaf, caducous or fragile propaguloid bistratose and segmented leaf tips, base hyaline. Costa glossy and strong, percurrent to short-excurrent, adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells present. Distal laminal cells rounded to hexagonal, mostly unistratose, densely papillose, thick-walled, 9-13 µm long, 6-9 µm wide, containing many chloroplasts. Laminal cells and basal cells are clearly different from each other. Proximal cells long rectangular, hyaline, large, lax, thick-walled, smooth, 40-100 µm long, 9-13 µm wide, separated from the chloroplast-containing cells in the distal direction either abruptly or gradually, border of the proximal region usually appears V-shaped and sometimes U-shaped. Plants sterile, and sporophytes not seen in the Turkish material. Ecology and distribution in Turkey: The specimens were collected from Cocakdere National Park road (Halkapınar District) and from the area surrounding Karagöl, a glacial lake, in the Bolkar Mountains. Tortella alpicola grows in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains, in the moist, thin layer of soil covering the rocks and on the limestone bedrock. The species grows with Brachytheciastrum collinum (Schleich. ex Müll.Hal.) Ignatov & Huttunen, Distichium capillaceum (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp., Homalothecium philippeanum (Spruce) Schimp., Ptychostomum inclinatum (Sw. ex Brid.) J.R.Spence, P. weigelii (Biehler) J.R.Spence, Syntrichia montana Nees, S. norvegica F.Weber and Timmia bavarica Hessl. The global distribution of the T. alpicola extends from Antarctica to the Arctic. The species has been described in the Southern Hemisphere under the name Sarconeuron tortelloides and it was recorded from Alexandra Island in Antarctica. In the Northern Hemisphere, this species was recorded by Churchill and Linares in 1995 in Colombia with the name T. tortelloides . It was also reported by Zander and Hoe in 1979 in Hawaii as T. fragilis var. tortelloides (S. W. Greene) R. H. Zander & Hoe. This species was subsequently recorded by Eckel in 1991 in North America and north-western Canada as T. tortelloides . (Rams et al., 2006). Otnyukova et al. (2004) has been reported the species for the first time in Europe from the Urals and it has also been recorded from various regions of Russia, as well as from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. The recording of the species by Rams et al. (2006) in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), followed by records from France, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and the Canary Islands, has expanded the species’ range. More recently, the species has also been recorded by Kiebacher in the Italian Alps (Ellis et al., 2020). The present paper, adds the Bolkar Mountains (Turkey) to the known range of the T. alpicola . The species is included in the IUCN Red List Category (Europe) and IUCN Red List Category (EU 28) as Least Concern (LC) (Hodgetts et al. 2019). In addition, T. alpicola is includes in Atlas and Red List of Threatened Bryophytes in Spain as Endangered (EN) (Garilleti and Albertos, 2012). Schistidium succulentum Ignatova & H.H.Blom Arctoa 19: 195-233. 2009. (Fig. 3). Specimen examined: Turkey: Niğde Province, Ulukışla District, Madenköy Village, Bolkar Mountains, 37° 25' 53" N, 34° 31' 55" E, grow on the limestone bedrock, 2110 m a.s.l., 26 May 2023, leg. and det. T. Ezer s.n. (Herbarium number: NOHU4871). Description of the Turkish specimens: Plants small, 8-11 mm, dense cushion or tufts, olivaceus-green in upper parts, brown to black in lower parts. Stems branched, central strand weakly distinct. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, sharply keeled in upper part, slightly curved when dry, erecto-patent when moist, 1.2 mm long, 0.4 mm wide, hyaline hair-point absent, margins plane at base, recurved towards apex, strongly thickened, 2-3-stratose in 2-3 rows in upper part, papillose-crenulate distally. Costa strongly projecting, 2-3-layered, trapezoid in general or sometimes semicircular in transverse sections, often papillose or smooth. Lamina unistratose with bistratose strips or completely bistratose, often with 3-stratose spots. Laminal cells , smooth or slightly to moderately papillose, thick-walled, irregular in shape and size in upper parts, mostly esinuose or slightly sinuose, 7-8 µm, in central parts short rectangular, thick-walled, slightly to distinctly sinuose, 9-11 μm wide and 11-14 μm long, basal cells smooth, rectangular, translucent or light brownish, moderately thickened, not porose, 7-10 μm wide and up to 14-18 μm long, basal marginal cells square or shortly rectangular, thickened walls. Perichaetial leaves inclined above the capsules, oblong, leaves non-plicate, narrow apiculus, 0.8-1 mm wide and 1.5-1.9 mm long, with short hyaline hair point to 0.1-0.2 mm long. Sporophytes common, immersed. Urn brown, oblong-cylindrical, ovoid when open, length/width ratio 1.6-1.8. Exothecial cells mostly irregular, subquadrate to rectangular, thin-walled, stomata at base of capsules. Peristome teeth reduced, 2.3-2.8 μm long, truncate, slightly papillose. Operculum low conic, with straight rostrum. Spores finely papillose, 11-12 μm. Ecology and distribution in Turkey: Schistidium succulentum collected from open limestone rock surface in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains in Turkey. The species growing together with Grimmia alpestris (F.Weber & D.Mohr) Schleich., Encalypta spathulata Müll.Hal., Syntrichia calcicola J.J.Amann, and Tortula inermis (Brid.) Mont. Schistidium succulentum was described by Ignatova et al. (2009) from the alpine zone of the Caucasus Mountains (Karachaevo-Cherkessian Republic) at 2650-3000 m a.s.l. and has subsequently been reported from the Anabar Plateau (Krasnoyarsk Territory), Transbaikal and Kamchatka (Ignatov et al. 2017). The species has also been recorded by Kiebacher (2020) from the Italian Alps, and other populations of S. succulentum have been determined in the European Alps (France, Switzerland) (Kiebacher and Blom, 2022). Schistidium succulentum grows on limestone rock surface in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains in Turkey (2110 m a.s.l.). With the present paper, the species has been recorded for the first time in Turkey and South-West Asia. Thus, it has been determined that the species’ range has expanded southwards. Declarations Acknowledgements This study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) (Project Code: 222Z015). We would like to thank for its financial support. We also extend special thanks to Dr. Vladimir E. Fedosov, who confirmed that the Turkish specimen corresponds to Schistidium succulentum. Authors contribution All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Tülay Ezer, Ahmet Uygur, Züleyha Aslan Ergenekon, Mevlüt Alataş and Nevzat Batan. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Tülay Ezer and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Funding This study was financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) (Project Code: 222Z015). Competing Interests The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. References Blom HH (1996) A revision of the Schistidium apocarpum complex in Norway and Sweden. Bryophytorum Bibliotheca 49:33 pp. Blom HH, Kiebacher T, Bednarek-Ochyra H, Ochyra R (2025) Studies on Schistidium (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta) in Europe, with particular reference to the Alps: II. Description of two new species S. pratense and S. heribertii . Phytotaxa 736(3):191–209. Brugués M, Guerra J (2015) Flora Briofitica Ibérica, Volume 2. Universidad de Murcia, Sociedad Española de Briología, Murcia. Casas C, Brugués M, Cros RM, Sérgio C (2006) Handbook of Mosses of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Barcelona. Churchill SP, Linares EL (1995) Prodromus Bryologiae Novo-Granatensis. Introducción a la flora de musgos de Colombia. Parte 1. Biblioteca “José Jerónimo Triana” 12:1–453. Dixon HN (1930) Additions to the moss flora of the northwestern Himalayas. Annales Bryologici 11:51–70. Eckel PM (1991) Tortella tortelloides (Musci: Pottiaceae) new to North America. The Bryologist 94:84–87. Eckel PM (1997) The moss Tortella alpicola new to Alberta and the Yukon Territory with a discussion on its range and comments on related species. Canadian Field-Naturalist 111(2):320–322. Eckel PM (1999) Tortella alpicola new to the moss flora of South Dakota. Evansia 16(4):167. Ellis LT, Afonina OM, Czernyadjeva IV, Konoreva LA, Potemkin AD, Kotkova VM, Alataş M, Blom HH, Boiko M, Cabral RA, et al. (2020). New national and regional bryophyte records, 63. J. 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CH.2019.ERL.2.en. Ignatov MS, Ignatova EA, Fedosov VE, Ivanova EI, Blom HH, Muñoz J, Bednarek-Ochyra H, Afonina OM, Kurbatova LE, Czernyadjeva IV (2017) Moss flora of Russia. Vol. 2: Oedipodiales-Grimmiales. Moscow: KMK Scientific Press Ltd. Ignatova EA, Doroshina HYa (2008) Notes on Tortella (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in the Caucasus. Arctoa 17:29-47. Ignatova EA, Blom HH, Goryunov DV, Milyutina IA (2009) On the genus Schistidium (Grimmiaceare, Musci) in Russia. Arctoa 19:195-233. Ignatova EA, Blom HH, Kuznetsova OI (2016) Schistidium austrosibiricum sp. nov. and S. scabripilum sp. nov. (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta)-two closely related species from Asian Russia. Arctoa 25:107-115. Karaoğlan F (2016) Tracking the uplift of the Bolkar Mountains (South-Central Turkey): evidence from apatite fission track thermochronology. Turk. J. Earth Sci. 25(1):64-80. Kiebacher T (2020) Schistidium succulentum Ignatova & H.H.Blom (Grimmiaceae) new to Europe. Journal of Bryology 42:277-280. Kiebacher T, Blom HH (2022) On the occurrence of Schistidium subconfertum and S. succulentum in Europe. Lindbergia 45: linbg.01159. Kürschner H (1984) Der Östliche Orta Toroslar (Mittlerer Taurus) und angrenzende Gebiete. Eine formationskundliche Darstellung der Vegetation Südost-Anatoliends, Beihefte Zum Tübinger Atlas Des Vorderen Orients, Weisbaden. Kürschner H, Frey W (2020) Liverworts, Mosses and Hornworts of Southwest Asia (Marchantiophyta, Bryophyta, Anthocerotophyta). Nova Hedwig. 149:1-267. Lüth M (2019) Mosses of Europe-a photographic flora. Vol. 1. Michael Lüth, Freiburg, 1306 p. Otnyukova TN., Ignatova EA, Ignatov MS, Fedosov VE (2004) New records of Tortella alpicola Dix. in Eurasia. Arctoa 13:197-201. Rams S, Ros RM, Werner O (2006) Tortella alpicola (Pottiaceae) from Spain, new to Western Europe. The Bryologist 109:404-407. Rams S, Ros RM, Werner O (2011) Tortella alpicola Dixon. En Garilleti R, Albertos B. (Coords.). Atlas de los briófitos amenazados de España. Universitat de València. http://www.uv.es/abraesp. Publicado en línea el 22/12/2011. Corrección de erratas 22/10/2012. Swissbryophytes (2018) Tortella alpicola Dixon. Zürich: Swissbryophytes. [accessed 2026 March 16]. https://www.swissbryophytes.ch/index.php/de/verbreitung?taxon_id=nism-4214. Ünaldı ÜE, Kömüşcü AÜ (2007) Topografya ve vejetasyon arasındaki ilişkiler; Bolkar Dağları (Ereğli-Dümbelek düzü-Mersin arası) örneği. Fırat Üniversitesi Sos. Bil. Derg. 17(1):1-15. Zander RH (1993) Genera of the Pottiaceae: Mosses of harsh Environments. Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. 32:378 pp. Zander RH, Hoe WJ (1979) Geographic disjunction and heterophylly in Tortella fragilis var. tortelloides (= Sarconeurum tortelloides ). Bryologist 82:84-87. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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Scale bars shown.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9347774/v1/bee1bf15c48ae5ebdffade26.jpeg"},{"id":107185425,"identity":"0ccbeca9-d33d-430c-a5e8-0bcae5aeb64b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-17 18:48:58","extension":"jpeg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":648638,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIgnatova \u0026amp; H.H.Blom; a. tuft, b. shoots in a tuft, c. urn, d. exothecial cells, e. leaf, f. leaf base, g. papillae on costa (dorsal), h. leaf cross-sections. Scale bars shown.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9347774/v1/1b83883d31b46173f212a1fb.jpeg"},{"id":107815405,"identity":"7f876f65-feb7-4f2c-8a6e-3723df235d0c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-26 07:24:56","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2004929,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9347774/v1/4abe1a50-bf52-447a-9c8b-7fee4af5f257.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Two Remarkable Moss Species New to Turkey and Southwest Asia: Taxonomic Notes and Biogeographical Implications","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eAlpine crispy moss \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e Dix. was described by Dixon in 1930 from the Himalayas in India (Dixon, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1930\u003c/span\u003e). The species was later described by Greene from Alexandra Island in Antarctica in 1970 as \u003cem\u003eSarconeuron tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e S. W. Greene, and shortly thereafter transferred to the genus \u003cem\u003eTortella\u003c/em\u003e (Otnyukova et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e; Rams et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). Forty years after \u003cem\u003eT. alpicola\u003c/em\u003e, Zander accepted \u003cem\u003eTortella tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e (S. W. Greene) H. Rob., first reported from North America by Eckel (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1991\u003c/span\u003e), as the same species, thereby significantly expanding the distribution range of this species (Zander \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1993\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe only known location of \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e in Eurasia is its type locality in India, although it has also been reported from single locations in Antarctica, Hawaii and Colombia. However, the distribution of the species extends from Antarctica to the Arctic. Recent studies have reported the species' presence in Eurasia from different regions of Russia and from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia, which are closer to its type locality in Asia (Otnyukova et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e; Rams et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). It was reported that the species, recorded for the first time in Europe in the Urals, was found in the Sierra Nevada, and subsequently recorded in the mountainous regions of France, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Canary Islands (Ellis et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present paper adds the Bolkar Mountains (Turkey) to the known distribution of the species and also reports a new record for Turkey and South-West Asia.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNine taxa of the genus \u003cem\u003eTortella\u003c/em\u003e have been certainly reported in Turkey so far (K\u0026uuml;rschner and Frey \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Here, \u003cem\u003eT. alpicola\u003c/em\u003e firstly reportd from Turkey and taking to 10 the number of \u003cem\u003eTortella\u003c/em\u003e taxa.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e Ignatova \u0026amp; H.H.Blom was descriped to new species by Ignatova et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e) from Teberda Nature Reserve in Russia (Karachaevo-Cherkessian Republic). Then, the species was reported from Anabar Plateau, Transbaikal and Kamchatka (Ignatov et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e, recorded by Kiebacher in the European Alps in 2020, has raised doubts about the identity of \u003cem\u003eSchistidium subconfertum\u003c/em\u003e (Broth.) Deguchi, which was described by Hans H. Blom in 1996, long before the description of \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e, and included in the European bryophyte checklist based on a single specimen previously reported by Glowacki from the Italian Alps. To resolve this issue, the Glowacki\u0026rsquo;s specimen was re-examined morphologically and was determined to actually represent \u003cem\u003eS. succulentum\u003c/em\u003e (Kiebacher and Blom, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe concept of species within the taxonomically difficult genus \u003cem\u003eSchistidium\u003c/em\u003e has changed significantly in recent years, particularly following Blom\u0026rsquo;s revision of the \u003cem\u003eS. apacarpum\u003c/em\u003e complex in Norway and Sweden. His narrow species concept has been widely applied in other regions of Europe and also this approach was supported with a molecular study conducted by Goryunov et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e) (Blom, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1996\u003c/span\u003e; Erzberger and Schr\u0026ouml;der, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e; Ignatova et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e, which belongs to the \u003cem\u003eConfertum\u003c/em\u003e-clade, has been identified in the Bolkar Mountains in Turkey (Ignatova et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e). So far, twenty-eight taxa of \u003cem\u003eSchistidium\u003c/em\u003e Bruch \u0026amp; Schimp. have been reported for Turkey (K\u0026uuml;rschner and Frey \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Ellis et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). In the present paper, \u003cem\u003eS. succulentum\u003c/em\u003e, firstly reportd from Turkey and Sout-west Asia, increases this total by one.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eStudy area\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocated at the intersection of the Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean phytogeographic regions in Turkey, the Bolkar Mountains are situated in the eastern part of the Central Taurus Mountains and extend in the southwest-northeast direction (Fig 1). Covering an area of approximately 1290 km2 in total, these mountains have a length of approximately 150 km from southwest to northeast and a width of 40-50 km in places (\u0026Uuml;naldı and K\u0026ouml;m\u0026uuml;şc\u0026uuml;, 2007).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePermo-Carboniferous-aged limestones, widely observed as the basic rock unit in the Bolkar Mountains, exhibit a hard, crystallized, and fractured structure, forming the upper parts of the mountain (\u0026Uuml;naldı and K\u0026ouml;m\u0026uuml;şc\u0026uuml;, 2007). Additionally, this rock unit comprises carbonate, siliciclastic, and volcanic rocks with ages ranging from the Upper Permian to the Late Cretaceous, and it also includes their metamorphic transformations (Karaoğlan, 2016). The soil characteristics of the region encompass terra-rossa and reddish-brown Mediterranean soils in the south, as well as brown forest soils and brown soils in the north. Moreover, high mountain meadow soils are observed at altitudes above 2000 meters (\u0026Uuml;naldı and K\u0026ouml;m\u0026uuml;şc\u0026uuml;, 2007).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bolkar Mounatains are a region that exhibits marked differences in terms of climate diversity, with the northern part experiencing a semi-arid and cold Mediterranean climate, while the southern part generally displays characteristics of a Mediterranean climate. Most of the study area is covered with steppe and rock vegetation; however, in the southern part, maquis shrubs and coniferous forests, typical of the Mediterranean climate, are observed (K\u0026uuml;rschner, 1984).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eData source\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study is based on specimens collected from the Bolkar Mountains. The collected specimens were identified using relevant literature (Blom, 1996; Blom et al., 2025; Brugu\u0026eacute;s and Guerra, 2015; Casas et al., 2006; Eckel, 1997; 1999; Ignatova and Doroshina, 2008; Ignatova et al., 2009; 2016; Kiebacher, 2020; L\u0026uuml;th, 2019; Otnyukova et al., 2004; Rams et al., 2006; 2011; Swissbryophytes 2018; Zander, 1993). Voucher specimens held in the Herbarium of Niğde \u0026Ouml;mer Halisdemir University.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results and Discussions","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDixon\u003c/strong\u003e Ann. Bryol. 3: 54. 1929.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSarconeuron tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e S.W. Greene, Sci. Rep. Brit. Antarct. Surv. 64:38. 1970. \u003cem\u003eTortella\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003etortelloides\u003c/em\u003e (S.W. Greene) Robins. in Liano, Antarct. Terr. Biol., Antarct. Res. Ser. 20:170. 1972. \u003cem\u003eTortella fragilis\u003c/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003etortelloides\u003c/em\u003e (S.W.Greene) Zand. \u0026amp; Hoe, Bryologist 82:84. 1979 (Fig. 2).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen examined:\u003c/strong\u003e Turkey: Konya, Halkapınar District, Bolkar Mountains, Cocakdere National Park road, 37\u0026deg; 14\u0026apos; 54\u0026quot; N, 34\u0026deg; 21\u0026apos; 17\u0026quot; E, grow on moist soil covering the rocks, 2980 m a.s.l., 12 August 2024, \u003cem\u003eleg.\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003edet.\u003c/em\u003e T. Ezer \u003cem\u003es.n.\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Herbarium number: NOHU5346). Turkey: Niğde Province, Ulukışla District, Madenk\u0026ouml;y Village, Bolkar Mountains, 37\u0026deg; 24\u0026apos; 14\u0026quot; N, 34\u0026deg; 33\u0026apos; 51\u0026quot; E, grow on rock near the lake Karag\u0026ouml;l, 2575 m a.s.l., 20 June 2023, \u003cem\u003eleg.\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003edet.\u003c/em\u003e T. Ezer \u003cem\u003es.n.\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Herbarium number: NOHU4972).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription of the Turkish specimens: Plants\u003c/strong\u003e small, up to 6-10 mm, green. \u003cstrong\u003eStems\u003c/strong\u003e thin, without red tomentum, with central strand typically. \u003cstrong\u003eLeaves\u003c/strong\u003e flexuose when dry, almost erect when wet, oblong to linear-lanceolate, papillose-crenulate margins throughout the leaf, caducous or fragile propaguloid bistratose and segmented leaf tips, base hyaline. \u003cstrong\u003eCosta\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eglossy and strong, percurrent to short-excurrent, adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells present. \u003cstrong\u003eDistal laminal cells\u003c/strong\u003e rounded to hexagonal, mostly unistratose, densely papillose, thick-walled, 9-13 \u0026micro;m long, 6-9 \u0026micro;m wide, containing many chloroplasts. Laminal cells and basal cells are clearly different from each other. \u003cstrong\u003eProximal cells\u003c/strong\u003e long rectangular, hyaline, large, lax, thick-walled, smooth, 40-100 \u0026micro;m long, 9-13 \u0026micro;m wide, separated from the chloroplast-containing cells in the distal direction either abruptly or gradually, border of the proximal region usually appears V-shaped and sometimes U-shaped. Plants sterile, and sporophytes not seen in the Turkish material.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEcology and distribution in Turkey:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe specimens were collected from Cocakdere National Park road (Halkapınar District) and from the area surrounding Karag\u0026ouml;l, a glacial lake, in the Bolkar Mountains. \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e grows in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains, in the moist, thin layer of soil covering the rocks and on the limestone bedrock. The species grows with \u003cem\u003eBrachytheciastrum collinum\u003c/em\u003e (Schleich. ex M\u0026uuml;ll.Hal.) Ignatov \u0026amp; Huttunen, \u003cem\u003eDistichium capillaceum\u003c/em\u003e (Hedw.) Bruch \u0026amp; Schimp., \u003cem\u003eHomalothecium philippeanum\u003c/em\u003e (Spruce) Schimp., \u003cem\u003ePtychostomum inclinatum\u003c/em\u003e (Sw. ex Brid.) J.R.Spence, \u003cem\u003eP. weigelii\u003c/em\u003e (Biehler) J.R.Spence, \u003cem\u003eSyntrichia montana\u003c/em\u003e Nees, \u003cem\u003eS. norvegica\u003c/em\u003e F.Weber and \u003cem\u003eTimmia bavarica\u003c/em\u003e Hessl.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe global distribution of the \u003cem\u003eT. alpicola\u003c/em\u003e extends from Antarctica to the Arctic. The species has been described in the Southern Hemisphere under the name \u003cem\u003eSarconeuron tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e and it was recorded from Alexandra Island in Antarctica. In the Northern Hemisphere, this species was recorded by Churchill and Linares in 1995 in Colombia with the name \u003cem\u003eT. tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e. It was also reported by Zander and Hoe in 1979 in Hawaii as \u003cem\u003eT. fragilis\u003c/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003etortelloides\u003c/em\u003e (S. W. Greene) R. H. Zander \u0026amp; Hoe. This species was subsequently recorded by Eckel in 1991 in North America and north-western Canada as \u003cem\u003eT. tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e. (Rams et al., 2006). Otnyukova et al. (2004) has been reported the species for the first time in Europe from the Urals and it has also been recorded from various regions of Russia, as well as from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. The recording of the species by Rams et al. (2006) in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), followed by records from France, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and the Canary Islands, has expanded the species\u0026rsquo; range. More recently, the species has also been recorded by Kiebacher in the Italian Alps (Ellis et al., 2020). The present paper, adds the Bolkar Mountains (Turkey) to the known range of the \u003cem\u003eT. alpicola\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe species is included in the IUCN Red List Category (Europe) and IUCN Red List Category (EU 28) as Least Concern (LC) (Hodgetts et al. 2019). In addition, \u003cem\u003eT. alpicola\u003c/em\u003e is includes in Atlas and Red List of Threatened Bryophytes in Spain as Endangered (EN) (Garilleti and Albertos, 2012).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;Ignatova \u0026amp; H.H.Blom\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eArctoa\u0026nbsp;19: 195-233. 2009. (Fig. 3).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen examined:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eTurkey: Niğde Province, Ulukışla District, Madenk\u0026ouml;y Village, Bolkar Mountains, 37\u0026deg; 25\u0026apos; 53\u0026quot; N, 34\u0026deg; 31\u0026apos; 55\u0026quot; E, grow on the limestone bedrock, 2110 m a.s.l., 26 May 2023, \u003cem\u003eleg.\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003edet.\u003c/em\u003e T. Ezer \u003cem\u003es.n.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Herbarium number: NOHU4871).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription of the Turkish specimens: Plants\u003c/strong\u003e small, 8-11 mm, dense cushion or tufts, olivaceus-green in upper parts, brown to black in lower parts. \u003cstrong\u003eStems\u003c/strong\u003e branched, central strand weakly distinct. \u003cstrong\u003eLeaves\u003c/strong\u003e ovate-lanceolate, sharply keeled in upper part, slightly curved when dry, erecto-patent when moist, 1.2 mm long, 0.4 mm wide, hyaline hair-point absent, margins plane at base, recurved towards apex, strongly thickened, 2-3-stratose in 2-3 rows in upper part, papillose-crenulate distally. \u003cstrong\u003eCosta\u003c/strong\u003e strongly projecting, 2-3-layered, trapezoid in general or sometimes semicircular in transverse sections, often papillose or smooth. \u003cstrong\u003eLamina\u003c/strong\u003e unistratose with bistratose strips or completely bistratose, often with 3-stratose spots. \u003cstrong\u003eLaminal cells\u003c/strong\u003e, smooth or slightly to moderately papillose, thick-walled, irregular in shape and size in upper parts, mostly esinuose or slightly sinuose, 7-8 \u0026micro;m, in central parts short rectangular, thick-walled, slightly to distinctly sinuose, 9-11 \u0026mu;m wide and 11-14 \u0026mu;m long, basal cells smooth, rectangular, translucent or light brownish, moderately thickened, not porose, 7-10 \u0026mu;m wide and up to 14-18 \u0026mu;m long, basal marginal cells square or shortly rectangular, thickened walls. \u003cstrong\u003ePerichaetial leaves\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003einclined above the capsules, oblong, leaves non-plicate, narrow apiculus, 0.8-1 mm wide and 1.5-1.9 mm long, with short hyaline hair point to 0.1-0.2 mm long. \u003cstrong\u003eSporophytes\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003ecommon, immersed. \u003cstrong\u003eUrn\u003c/strong\u003e brown, oblong-cylindrical, ovoid when open, length/width ratio 1.6-1.8. \u003cstrong\u003eExothecial cells\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003emostly\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eirregular, subquadrate to rectangular, thin-walled, stomata at base of capsules. \u003cstrong\u003ePeristome teeth\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003ereduced, 2.3-2.8 \u0026mu;m long, truncate, slightly papillose. \u003cstrong\u003eOperculum\u003c/strong\u003e low conic, with straight rostrum. \u003cstrong\u003eSpores\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003efinely papillose, 11-12 \u0026mu;m.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEcology and distribution in Turkey:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e collected from open limestone rock surface in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains in Turkey. The species growing together with \u003cem\u003eGrimmia alpestris\u003c/em\u003e (F.Weber \u0026amp; D.Mohr) Schleich., \u003cem\u003eEncalypta spathulata\u003c/em\u003e M\u0026uuml;ll.Hal., \u003cem\u003eSyntrichia calcicola\u003c/em\u003e J.J.Amann, and \u003cem\u003eTortula inermis\u003c/em\u003e (Brid.) Mont.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e was described by Ignatova et al. (2009) from the alpine zone of the Caucasus Mountains (Karachaevo-Cherkessian Republic) at 2650-3000 m a.s.l. and has subsequently been reported from the Anabar Plateau (Krasnoyarsk Territory), Transbaikal and Kamchatka (Ignatov et al. 2017). The species has also been recorded by Kiebacher (2020) from the Italian Alps, and other populations of \u003cem\u003eS. succulentum\u003c/em\u003e have been determined in the European Alps (France, Switzerland) (Kiebacher and Blom, 2022).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e grows on limestone rock surface in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains in Turkey (2110 m a.s.l.). With the present paper, the species has been recorded for the first time in Turkey and South-West Asia. Thus, it has been determined that the species\u0026rsquo; range has expanded southwards.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (T\u0026Uuml;BİTAK) (Project Code: 222Z015). We would like to thank for its financial support. We also extend special thanks to Dr. Vladimir E. Fedosov, who confirmed that the Turkish specimen corresponds to \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors contribution\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by T\u0026uuml;lay Ezer, Ahmet Uygur, Z\u0026uuml;leyha Aslan Ergenekon, Mevl\u0026uuml;t Alataş and Nevzat Batan. The first draft of the manuscript was written by T\u0026uuml;lay Ezer and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (T\u0026Uuml;BİTAK) (Project Code: 222Z015).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlom HH (1996) A revision of the \u003cem\u003eSchistidium apocarpum\u003c/em\u003e complex in Norway and Sweden. Bryophytorum Bibliotheca 49:33 pp.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlom HH, Kiebacher T, Bednarek-Ochyra H, Ochyra R (2025) Studies on \u003cem\u003eSchistidium\u003c/em\u003e (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta) in Europe, with particular reference to the Alps: II. Description of two new species \u003cem\u003eS. pratense\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eS. heribertii\u003c/em\u003e. Phytotaxa 736(3):191\u0026ndash;209.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrugu\u0026eacute;s M, Guerra J (2015) Flora Briofitica Ib\u0026eacute;rica, Volume 2. Universidad de Murcia, Sociedad Espa\u0026ntilde;ola de Briolog\u0026iacute;a, Murcia.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCasas C, Brugu\u0026eacute;s M, Cros RM, S\u0026eacute;rgio C (2006) Handbook of Mosses of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Institut d\u0026apos;Estudis Catalans, Barcelona.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChurchill SP, Linares EL (1995) Prodromus Bryologiae Novo-Granatensis. Introducci\u0026oacute;n a la flora de musgos de Colombia. Parte 1. Biblioteca \u0026ldquo;Jos\u0026eacute; Jer\u0026oacute;nimo Triana\u0026rdquo; 12:1\u0026ndash;453.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDixon HN (1930) Additions to the moss flora of the northwestern Himalayas. 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Bryol. 42:3, 281-296.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEllis LT, Alataş M, \u0026Aacute;lvaro Alba WR, Charry Giraldo AM, Amatov V, Batan N, Becerra Infante DA, Burghardt M, Czernyadjeva IV, Kuzmina EYu, et al. (2021). New national and regional bryophyte records, 67. J. Bryol. 43(3):301-311.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErzberger P, Schr\u0026ouml;der W (2008) The genus \u003cem\u003eSchistidium\u003c/em\u003e (Grimmiaceae, Musci) in Hungary. Studia Botanica Hungarica 39:27-88.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGarilleti R, Albertos B. (Coord.) (2012) Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Bri\u0026oacute;fitos amenazados de Espa\u0026ntilde;a. Organismo Aut\u0026oacute;nomo Parques Nacionales Madrid, 288 pp.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGoryunov DV, Ignatova EA, Ignatov MS, Milyutina IA, Troitsky AV (2007) Support from DNA data for a narrow species concept in \u003cem\u003eSchistidium\u003c/em\u003e (Grimmiaceae, Musci). J. Bryol. 29:98-103.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHodgetts N, C\u0026agrave;lix M, Englefield E, Fettes N, Criado MG, Patin L, Nieto A, Bergamini A, Bisang I, Baisheva E, et al. (2019) A Miniature World in Decline: European Red List of Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN. CH.2019.ERL.2.en.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgnatov MS, Ignatova EA, Fedosov VE, Ivanova EI, Blom HH, Mu\u0026ntilde;oz J, Bednarek-Ochyra H, Afonina OM, Kurbatova LE, Czernyadjeva IV (2017) Moss flora of Russia. Vol. 2: Oedipodiales-Grimmiales. Moscow: KMK Scientific Press Ltd.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgnatova EA, Doroshina HYa (2008) Notes on \u003cem\u003eTortella\u003c/em\u003e (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in the Caucasus. Arctoa 17:29-47.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgnatova EA, Blom HH, Goryunov DV, Milyutina IA (2009) On the genus \u003cem\u003eSchistidium\u003c/em\u003e (Grimmiaceare, Musci) in Russia. Arctoa 19:195-233.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIgnatova EA, Blom HH, Kuznetsova OI (2016) \u003cem\u003eSchistidium austrosibiricum\u003c/em\u003e sp. nov. and \u003cem\u003eS. scabripilum\u003c/em\u003e sp. nov. (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta)-two closely related species from Asian Russia. Arctoa 25:107-115.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKaraoğlan F (2016) Tracking the uplift of the Bolkar Mountains (South-Central Turkey): evidence from apatite fission track thermochronology. Turk. J. Earth Sci. 25(1):64-80.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKiebacher T (2020) \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum \u003c/em\u003eIgnatova \u0026amp; H.H.Blom (Grimmiaceae) new to Europe. Journal of Bryology\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003e42:277-280.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKiebacher T, Blom HH (2022) On the occurrence of \u003cem\u003eSchistidium subconfertum \u003c/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eS. succulentum \u003c/em\u003ein Europe. Lindbergia 45: linbg.01159.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eK\u0026uuml;rschner H (1984) Der \u0026Ouml;stliche Orta Toroslar (Mittlerer Taurus) und angrenzende Gebiete. Eine formationskundliche Darstellung der Vegetation S\u0026uuml;dost-Anatoliends, Beihefte Zum T\u0026uuml;binger Atlas Des Vorderen Orients, Weisbaden.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eK\u0026uuml;rschner H, Frey W (2020) Liverworts, Mosses and Hornworts of Southwest Asia (Marchantiophyta, Bryophyta, Anthocerotophyta). Nova Hedwig. 149:1-267.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eL\u0026uuml;th M (2019) Mosses of Europe-a photographic flora. Vol. 1. Michael L\u0026uuml;th, Freiburg, 1306 p.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOtnyukova TN., Ignatova EA, Ignatov MS, Fedosov VE (2004) New records of \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e Dix. in Eurasia. Arctoa 13:197-201.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRams S, Ros RM, Werner O (2006) \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e (Pottiaceae) from Spain, new to Western Europe. The Bryologist 109:404-407.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRams S, Ros RM, Werner O (2011) \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e Dixon. En Garilleti R, Albertos B. (Coords.). Atlas de los bri\u0026oacute;fitos amenazados de Espa\u0026ntilde;a. Universitat de Val\u0026egrave;ncia. http://www.uv.es/abraesp. Publicado en l\u0026iacute;nea el 22/12/2011. Correcci\u0026oacute;n de erratas 22/10/2012.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSwissbryophytes (2018) \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e Dixon. Z\u0026uuml;rich: Swissbryophytes. [accessed 2026 March 16]. https://www.swissbryophytes.ch/index.php/de/verbreitung?taxon_id=nism-4214. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u0026Uuml;naldı \u0026Uuml;E, K\u0026ouml;m\u0026uuml;şc\u0026uuml; A\u0026Uuml; (2007) Topografya ve vejetasyon arasındaki ilişkiler; Bolkar Dağları (Ereğli-D\u0026uuml;mbelek d\u0026uuml;z\u0026uuml;-Mersin arası) \u0026ouml;rneği. Fırat \u0026Uuml;niversitesi Sos. Bil. Derg. 17(1):1-15.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZander RH (1993) Genera of the Pottiaceae: Mosses of harsh Environments. Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. 32:378 pp.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZander RH, Hoe WJ (1979) Geographic disjunction and heterophylly in \u003cem\u003eTortella fragilis\u003c/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003etortelloides\u003c/em\u003e (=\u003cem\u003eSarconeurum tortelloides\u003c/em\u003e). Bryologist 82:84-87.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Bolkar Mountains, bryophytes, mosses, new records, Schistidium succulentum, Southwest Asia, Tortella alpicola, Turkey","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9347774/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9347774/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003ePurpose\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this study, in which the species \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e are recorded for the first time in Turkey and Southwest Asia, aims to contribute to the bryophyte flora of Turkey.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethod\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring bryological land study to the Bolkar Mountains, \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e were collected. The collected specimens were identified using the relevant literature. The Turkish plants are described and illustrated from material collected from the Bolkar Mountains, which have a semi-arid and cold Mediterranean climate with a severe frost period in winter. Ecological characteristics of the species and details of localities in Turkey are also given.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e was collected from the road to Cocakdere National Park and from the vicinity of Karag\u0026ouml;l, a glacial lake, in the Bolkar Mountains. It grows in the alpine belt of the Bolkar Mountains, in the thin layer of moist soil covering the rocks and on the limestone bedrock. Specimens of \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e were collected from a sun-exposed, open limestone rock surface in the alpine zone of the Bolkar Mountains. \u003cem\u003eTortella alpicola\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSchistidium succulentum\u003c/em\u003e were recorded for the first time from Turkey and Southwest Asia with the present study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese new records will provide important information on the biogeographical distribution of both species in both Anatolia and Southwest Asia and will contribute to the bryophyte flora of Turkey.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Two Remarkable Moss Species New to Turkey and Southwest Asia: Taxonomic Notes and Biogeographical Implications","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-17 18:48:53","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9347774/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"d69ffb36-fbb4-4664-9685-46ed52b6703b","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 17th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-26T07:24:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-17 18:48:53","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9347774","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9347774","identity":"rs-9347774","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}